Riverhead - The Teeny Awards Ceremony is coming to Riverhead High School in June of 2010 - red carpet and all! The Teeny Awards is a high school theatre arts recognition program of the East End Arts Council and the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center patterned after the Tony Awards. Since its inception in 2002, the ceremony has been held at the Westhampton Performing Arts Center. The EEAC is bringing the venue to Riverhead High School, which can seat far more than the Westhampton Theatre - over 800 people - and will allow more people to attend.

Erin McKenna and Bret Chizever sing "You're the Top" from "Anything Goes" during the Teeny Awards memorabilia box's unveiling at the Applebees Restaurant in Riverhead.

This is the first year the Teeny Awards are branching out of the WHBPAC, and the ceremony will be rotated each year among participating high schools who are willing and able to host it. This announcement given by EEAC Director Pat Snyder took place during a ceremony at the Riverhead Applebees Restaurant to celebrate the unveiling of the Teeny Awards memorabilia box that will have a place on the wall at Applebees, one of the sponsors of the awards show.

A picture of Colin Palmer, a 2009 RHS graduate and the winner of "Leading Male in a Musical" for "Les Miserables," is in the upper right hand corner of the box.

Among other local dignitaries, RHS Principal David Zimbler and the RCSD's Fine Arts Director Sean O'Hara were both present for the ceremony. O'Hara, the former RHS Blue Masques Director, introduced two RHS alumni and former Teeny Award winners, Erin McKenna and Bret Chizever, who recently starred in the North Fork Community Theatre's production of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes." Erin and Bret sang "You're the Top" from "Anything Goes" for the audience at the ceremony.

Both Erin and Bret spoke about how meaningful the theatre arts program and awards ceremony was to them in high school. Erin, the Riverhead High School valedictorian of the class of 2005 and a 2009 graduate of Harvard, was nominated four times for choreography and twice for her acting. She won "Best Student Choreographer" for "Secret Garden" in 2004 and again in 2005 for "A Chorus Line." Bret, who also graduated in 2005 from RHS, received four nominations for acting. He won in 2004 for "Best Supporting Actor" in a Drama in "I Remember Mama." He is currently attending Dowling College pursuing a degree in elementary education.

RHS Principal David Zimbler (center), with Sean O'Hara and Pat Snyder, thanks the EEAC and the community for its support of the theatre arts program at RHS.

Fifteen high schools, which involve approximately 12,000 students and reach an estimated audience of 10,000, vie for the awards. Each of the individual winners are presented with an elegant glass trophy and a scholarship. In addition to the individual awards, each year an "Innovations in Theatre Education" goes to one school that goes above and beyond the usual high school play.

During the unveiling ceremony, Snyder stated, "The Teeny Awards are our answer to the recognition that students receive in the sports arena. One recent winner aptly described theatre as his 'sport,' and we look at this competition as the 'playoffs.' The mission of the Teeny Awards is to recognize and celebrate the talented theatre students across the East End of Long Island, to encourage them to pursue their dreams, and to stimulate local interest in theater which we believe is very important to a well-rounded school curriculum."

In June, nominees and their families will attend a gala awards ceremony, which, as stated previously, will be held at the Charles Cardona Auditorium at RHS. The nominees will walk the red carpet into the lobby dressed in tuxedos and ball gowns and enjoy the excitement and anticipation of the ceremony. You can get the winning momentum started by attending the RHS Blue Masques' presentation of "FAME the Musical", directed by Mary Haughie, at 8 p.m. on April 23, April 24, April 30 and May 1. Come cheer your 'team' on!